Atlético Madrid have won the UEFA Europa League after a dominant 3-0 victory over Marseille at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in France.

An Antoine Griezmann brace was compounded by a late strike from captain Gabi, as Los Colchoneros ran-away with a final that started so poorly for the Spanish side.

It was Diego Simeone's 200th clean sheet since taking over at the club, showcasing just how good Atlético are defensively, a fact that Marseille know all too-well after this game.

OM huffed and puffed but could not break-down the disciplined Spanish side, who are now the joint-most winners of this competition since its formation in 2009 with compatriots Sevilla.

Read below to see the LIVE minute-by-minute report of the match as it happened.

_________________________________________________________________

Domestic Football this season is over for the elite leagues, meaning that attention now turns to the finals of the two big European competitions. Liverpool and Real Madrid face-off in the final of the Champions League next weekend, but first it’s the UEFA Europa Leaguefinal between Marseille and Atlético Madrid at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in France, and we'll bring you LIVE updates of everything happening at the game this evening.

Marseille, who have sort-of home advantage playing here in France, started-off their Europa League campaign way back in August 2017 with a two-legged win over KV Oostende in the Third Qualifying Round. They have negotiated their way through the competition to the semi-final stage, where they beat Red Bull Salzburg in extra-time to get here.

Atlético, meanwhile, started their European campaign in the Champions League, struggling to a third-placed finish behind Roma and Chelsea in Group C and dropping into the last-32 of this competition. They brushed aside early opponents but narrowly edged-past Sporting CP and Arsenal in the latter stages to set-up this interesting tie in the final.

It is the first time they have ever faced in this competition, with the only two past meetings between the sides coming in the Group Stage of the 2008/09 Champions League. Atlético won the first and the second was a draw, meaning that Marseille have never beaten Los Colchoneros in official competition.

Both sides have appeared at this stage of the competition twice before, Marseille in 1999 and 2004 and Atlético in 2010 and 2012. As well as having more recent history in this tournament than tonight’s opposition, Los Rojiblancos have also had more luck.

They won both of their finals whereas Les Phocéens suffered defeat, meaning that OM have never won this trophy.

This will give manager Rudi Garcia and his side extra motivation to make it third-time lucky in Lyon, especially as they have not yet qualified for next season’s Champions League – the victor tonight will have automatic qualification for next season’s UCL, as per UEFA rules. Diego Simeone’s Atlético have already guaranteed their place in that competition next year but the Argentine, who has been linked consistently with the Arsenal job after Arséne Wenger announced that he would leave, will want to win the trophy on offer tonight just as much as his French counterpart.

This blog is LIVE and will continue to update as the night's events unfold, so don't forget to keep refreshing the page to get the latest news!

_________________________________________________________________

22:00 - And that's that from the Parc Olympique Lyonnais! Marseille fought bravely, but Atlético Madrid were just too good for them. Antoine Griezmann scored twice to win his first major trophy with the club, while captain Gabi added a third at the death to condemn the French side to a heavy cup final defeat.

Madrid's victory means that nine of the last 13 European finals have been won by a Spanish side, and that could become 10 in 14 after the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. What a period of dominance for Spanish football.

Anyhow, thanks for tuning-in, and we'll see you next weekend for our next LIVE blog, covering the Champions League Final in Kiev. Goodnight!

21:54 - Dimitri Payet is in tears as he watches on... I wonder if he has stopped crying since being forced-off with injury?

You've got to feel so sorry for the Frenchman.

21:53 - And Gabi hoists the trophy aloft in celebration! A nice moment for stalwart Fernando Torres also, as he is handed the trophy to lift after his final-ever game for the club.

21:51 - And now it's time for the Atléti players to collect their medals, they seem much happier about it, and why wouldn't they be?

21:49 - The French side go to the middle of the pitch to receive their runners-up medals.

Finishing in second in this competition is an impressive achievement for this side, but a runners-up medal must be a real kick in the teeth after that display.

And, as is the norm, most of the players immediately take their medals off as quickly as it was placed around their necks.

21:47 - Struggling under pressure?

3 - Marseille have now lost all three of their UEFA Cup/Europa League finals without scoring a single goal in any of those matches. Halted. pic.twitter.com/OOa52JNsk9

21:44 - Marseille were damaged by the loss of Dimitri Payet in the first half, who could now be a doubt for France's World Cup squad.

21:43 - Martin Keown on Atlético: "Their game management is exceptional." They certainly know how to see-out a game, but tonight they simple blew their opposition away.

21:41 - Spanish teams are good at the Europa League...

3 - Atletico Madrid have won the UEFA Europa League on three separate occasions since the competition’s inaugural season in 2009/10, the joint-most of any side in the competition (also Sevilla). Champions. pic.twitter.com/4QBaZDl1n6

FT - And that's it! Bjorn Kuipers blows his whistle, and Atlético Madrid have won the 2018 Europa League!

Despite early domination from Marseille, Atlético took-control of the tie, and two goals from Antoine Griezmann and a late Gabi strike ensured a third Europa League title in less than a decade for Los Rojiblancos.

90' - Two minutes added...

89' - Fernando Torres comes on for the excellent Griezmann, giving his adoring supporters a chance to show their adulation for him.

89' - Game over, the fireworks have already started here. Costa passes into Koke, who plays a brilliant first-time pass along the penalty area to Gabi, who takes a touch and fires across the helpless goalkeeper to seal it.

Griezmann had a hand in it as well, playing an excellent pass into Costa with the outside of his left boot.

87' - N'Jie has a great opportunity for Marseille on the edge of the area, but for some reason chooses to try and hit it with the outside of his right boot instead of his left, which the chance would have favoured. The result - it went out for a throw-in. Not an effort to remember for the winger.

86' - Marseille are so nearly the architects of their own downfall. Sloppy passing at the back allows Costa to nick the ball away, but his shot is blocked.

84' - Amavi hits a tricky shot from distance, which bounces just in front of Oblak, but the Slovenian watches it all the way and holds it well. Decent effort from the former-Aston Villa man.

83' - All of a sudden, the Marseille fans have found their voices. Funny how nearly scoring can do that, it's a miracle.

81' - AND THEY GO SO CLOSE TO GETTING THAT GOAL! Mitroglou's first involvement is to power a header onto the post after getting in-between Godín and Gimenez. Oblak well beaten, Mitroglou so unlucky.

80' - Atlético Madrid fans are already celebrating, and who can blame them? Their opponents don't seem to have the fight left in them, but a late goal would change all that...

77' - Clinton N'Jie is the latest man to be booked, as is Atlético's Lucas Hernandez.

74' - Luiz Gustavo finally goes into the referee's book. Putting his arm into Gabi's neck has convinced Bjorn Kuipers that he actually should be cautioned.

73' - Valére Germain pays the price for his early miss by being replaced by Kostas Mitroglou. Fulham fans will remember him, but not fondly.

He never quite impressed at Craven Cottage, but he was excellent for Olympiacos.

72' - Diego Costa reminding us all that he's on the pitch with a delicious cross-field ball to Ángel Correa, but Atlético can't find a way through.

69' - Comes to nothing.

69' - Griezmann swings it in left-footed, Saúl gets his head on the ball and it hits Gustavo's arm. Muted appeals for a penalty but there was no way he could get out of the way. Corner-kick.

68' - Luiz Gustavo has found a rather-novel way to deal with Griezmann - by hacking him down while he's nowhere near the ball. He inexplicably escapes without a booking.

67' - Marseille are slowly and surely getting their mojo back. They've seen a lot of the ball in the last 10 minutes - one lucky break or piece of inspiration and they could be right back in this...

65' - A Lopez cross is met by Germain, but his header is tame. Oblak screams at Juanfran to leave it for him, but he hoofs it out for a corner. Breakdown in communication there.

62' - A period of sustained possession for Marseille for the first time in recent memory, but they can't seem to find a way past this wall of red and white shirts.

Diego Simeone really does know how to set-up a side to defend, doesn't he!

59' - It's all very scrappy at the moment. Atlético seem content to allow the game to play-out this way.

56' - Luiz Gustavo fouls Griezmann. They just do not know how to defend against this man.

54' - And they're doing something about it - former-Spurs winger Clinton N'Jie is coming on for Lucas Ocampos, who is VERY unhappy with being removed from the field.

It does seem to be a strange substitution. Ocampos has been far-and-away Marseille's best player.

52' - And Godín nearly makes it three! He has a free header at the near post which he narrowly puts-over the bar. Marseille are in big trouble...

49' - It comes from a Marseille throw-in... Los Rojiblancos win the ball, Koke runs forward with it, picking the perfect pass through to Griezmann who takes two touches, and fires a left-footed strike into the bottom-corner. It's down to Mandanda's right again, but there's nothing the experience goalkeeper can do about it. Instinctive finish from the French striker.

Worst-possible start to the second-half for the team in white.

49' - GOAL ATLÉTICO MADRID! IT'S GRIEZMANN AGAIN!

48' - Decent chance for the anonymous Diego Costa to get in the game. He rolls Rami beautifully, but decides to take an extra touch, allowing Sarr to get across and clear the ball.

46' - One change at half-time, Juanfran comes on for Vrsaljko, who was on a yellow card.

46' - Atlético get us under-way for the second half...

20:48 - Not a good stat for the French side... Marseille fans, look away now!

15 - Atlético Madrid have won each of their last 15 Europa League games in which they have led at half-time. Resilience. pic.twitter.com/jAnlUA0mGX

HT - And that's the half-time whistle. Marseille started the first 15 minutes very much on-top, but Diego Simeone's side grew into the game more-and-more as the half progressed, and capitalised on a defensive error when Griezmann jumped on Anguissa's loose touch and stroked the ball beyond Mandanda.

It's 1-0 to Atlético at the break, and they look to be comfortably in charge. Marseille will take comfort from only being a goal behind, but have lost Dimitri Payet to injury and look rattled. There's plenty of life in this one just yet...

45' - Just one minute added-on to this first half...

44' - What would they do without this man?

11 - Antoine Griezmann has had a hand in more goals than any other Atlético Madrid player in European competition this season (11 - seven goals and four assists) - more than double that of any teammate. Royale. pic.twitter.com/O1EuT6Tm4N

42' - Atlético, on the other hand, may not have seen much of the ball, but when they've had it they've used it pretty well. Still, they are lucky to be ahead, one mistake from Anguissa and Mandanda was punished cruelly by Griezmann.

41' - For all their industry, Marseille have just given-away too many scrappy fouls. Rudi Garcia will have to calm his players down somewhat at half-time.

38' - Yellow card for Jordan Amavi, he was studs-up there as he challenged Vrsaljko for the ball near the corner flag. The caution is correct, no need for any further action.

35' - You get the feeling that these next 10 minutes will be huge for the French side. They cannot afford to concede again before the break for risk of being out of the tie already. They give away a free-kick in a dangerous position.

33' - Huge blow for Marseille, but they must continue without one of their star men. Thauvin's free-kick is easily cleared. Luiz Gustavo is their captain now after Payet's exit.

32' - The former-West Ham man is in tears as he is replaced by Lopez, with what looks like a hamstring problem. Griezmann comes over and gives his compatriot a hug. Payet is absolutely devastated.

31' - Payet down... his night looks to be over.

30' - Ocampos has been very good down the left so far, but has struggled to find an end product for all his industry so far. 15 minutes to the break...

26' - It has to be said, that goal came against the run of play. Atlético ahead, but Marseille have been the better side so far.

24' - Ocampos goes close at the other end with a looping header that falls onto the roof of Oblak's goal. It's livened-up now!

23' - First yellow card of the game goes to Sime Vrsaljko.

21' - It's a terrible touch from Anguissa after he was passed-to by goalkeeper Mandanda, and Griezmann takes full advantage! He runs through the middle, waits for the 'keeper to make the first move, and coolly slots it to his right. Mandanda seems to go-down way too early, making Griezmann's job all-too easy! 1-0 Atlético Madrid!

21' - GOAL ATLÉTICO MADRID! IT'S ANTOINE GRIEZMANN!

20' - Marseille have had the lion's share of the ball so far - the French side have had 61% possession so far.

19' - Payet has a go from distance. It's on target, but it's nowhere-near enough to trouble Oblak, who catches easily.

18' - Bit scrappy in midfield so far this game. Koke the victim of another little trip.

16' - The same man then tries a bicycle-kick a minute later, well wide.

19:22 - Robbie Savage reckons that former-West Ham man Dimitri Payet and the aforementioned Thauvin will be the key to Marseille's game tonight.

Can they influence the game or will Simeone's trademark defensive tactic nullify their threat?

19:15 - WHO WILL WIN TONIGHT? Tweet with the team YOU think will lift the trophy with the #BlastingELFinal

19:07 - There's no hiding that Antoine Griezmann is Atlético's key player, but, somewhat amazingly, he has never won a trophy with Los Rojiblancos!

110 goals for the Frenchman wearing the Atlético shirt, can he make it 111 or more tonight?

19:01 - He may have struggled in his time at Newcastle, but Florian Thauvin has been a revelation in France! His 22 goals from the wing this term put him second behind only Edinson Cavani in the French league scoring charts!

He starts for OM tonight, and could be key to their chances of taking the trophy home.

18:59 - All together in one graphic, both teams' starting XI for tonight's match. Thanks @goal!

This area provides transparent information about Blasting News, our editorial processes and how we strive for creating trustworthy news. Moreover, it fulfills our commitment to The Trust Project - News with Integrity (Blasting News is not part of the programme yet).

This website uses profiling (non technical) cookies, also third parties cookies, in order to send advertising messages according to user's preferences. To know our policy or to deny the consent for cookies use click here. If you continue the navigation through accessing each element below or you close this banner you agree to the use of cookies